Minnesota, USA -August 25, 2011 - According to Columbia University's National Center on Addiction and Substance abuse, teens that use social networking sites are more likely to suffer with drug and alcohol abuse. In its phone/online survey, it uncovered three important discoveries: teens who use social networking sites are 5 times more likely to smoke tobacco; two times as likely to use marijuana; and 3 times as likely to have alcohol.

Surprising It is likely the constant interaction between teens that increases the peer pressure. It is not a fact that social networking leads to substance abuse; however, it is important to consider the possible effects of social networking on the young mind; this could likely be one of them. The issues such as cyber bullying and other such issues are frequently discussed, but this study digs deeper into other possible consequences of early social networking.

Over the majority of parents do not believe that their children are more likely to engage in risky behaviors due to social networking use. Then again, most parents do not monitor their children's online activities so they miss such things as pictures of intoxicated teens. If they see it, they may just ignore it and pretend that it is not happening in their children's lives. After all, it could be seen as a failure on their part rather than a mistake of the teens.

Our lives are plagued with influential images of teens engaging in 'adult' activities. Even as adults, we are pressured to look and act a certain way due to family and friend's opinions or even simple images in a magazine; the pressure by others and media are even higher for teens. Unlike adults, they are still trying to discover who they are and try to fit into the 'group'. If they see someone who they admire engaging in risky behavior, they are also likely to do the same. With social networking, teens are documenting everything even if it is potential image damaging photos of a night of underage drinking. Once one teen does it, they all want to do it.

Our standards in society have changed dramatically over time; as everyone knows, the laws changed to keep the 'young' from making the mistake of drinking too often or too much. There is always the argument that the age should be changed to 18 again because legally teens are adults at this time. Regardless of the legal age, drinking and drug abuse will continue; perhaps social networking could be linked to an increase in these activities. Although, many other factors could play a part such as low family involvement and self-esteem issues.